Machine for manufacturing screw-threaded pipes.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

' E. T. GREENPIELD.

. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SCREW THREADED PIPES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 31. 1902.

4 SHEETS-$113M N0 MODEL.

' TI GHQ cums 9 PATBNTED MAY 5, 1903.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 31, 1902:

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 N0 MODEL.

Himeooeo h 5144 can r 1 33313 aflo'auua m: NORRIS FETERSYCO PHOTCHJTHOY, wnsmmsmn, u. c,

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

' No. 727,128. E. T. GREENFIELD.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SCREW THREADED PIPES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

no MODEL.

WMM c we 0- No. 727,128. PATBNTED MAY 5, 190 s B. T. GREENFIELD.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SCREW THREADED-PIPES.v

' APPLICATION FILED mu s 1, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED "STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

' "ATE'NT *innicn.

EDWIN T. GREIQNFIELD, OF MONTICELLO, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,128, dated May 5, 1903. Application filed July 31, 1902. Serial No. 117,811. (No model.)

To all whom ZZZ; may concern:

Beit known that I, EDWIN TGRE NFI LD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Sullivan and State of New York, have made a new and use- My invention is directed particularly to novel machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded pipe or tube by first winding a metal thread of the desired configuration and pitch around the metal pipe or tube and then securing the same integrally to the body thereof. In a prior application filed by me in the United States Patent Office on the 14th day of April, 1902, bearing Serial No. 102,849, I have described the method or proc-. ess of constructing such a screw-threaded pipe, tube, or rod and have made claim at the end of the specification to the method therein disclosed. In another application filed by me on the 14th day of April, 1902, and bearing Serial No. 102,850, I have described and claimed the novel screw-threaded pipe, tube, or rod as constructed in the manner disclosed in the first-named application. The mechanism embodied in the present invention is designed to practice in part the method disclosed in the first-named application and to construct such a, screw-threaded pipe, tube, or rod as is disclosed in the second-named application up to the point where said pipe, tube, or rod is placed in a furnace and subjected to the necessary heat for inte-' grally attaching the screw-thread thereto.

To this end my invention consists'in the structural apparatus hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the essential points of novelty being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

For a full and clear understanding of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the same, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 represent conjointly, when the drawings are placed end to end and read from left to right, a side elevational view of the entire machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1 as seen looking thereat from the top toward the bottom of the drawings, the machine being represented in this view broken'in two at a point near the righthandiside of the figure, the wire-reel and supply of thread-wire being shown in this View, but not shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the right-hand portion of that part of the machine illustrated in Fig...2,the'extremeright-hand end of the .machine and the 'propellingmotor being broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through Fig. 4 on the line :10 0c and as seen looking thereat from right to left.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in all of which like numerals of reference represent like parts wherever used, and first to liigs. l and 2, when placed end to end and ;reading from left to right, 1 represents the legs of the machine, secured directly to the floor, and 2 astrong metal I-beam rigidly secured to the legs by bolts at the upper ends thereof and acting as a 'support for practically-all of the parts of the machine.

3 3 3 are metal standardssecured directly by bolts to the upper flange of the I-beam, two ofthese standards at the right-hand end of the machine acting as a support for a motive device, (here showuas an electric motor 5,) and'the other standardfiv at the extreme left-hand end of the machine acting as a support for one end of the pipe or tube to be operated upon.

6 7 S'representatrain of gear-wheels operatively conuecting the motive device 5 with a carriage-propelling screw 9, journaled at its opposite ends in journal-bearings secured directly to the I-beamfl, said screw having the same pitch throughout its length as the screwthreads willhave upon the completed screwthreaded pipe or tube after it has been operated upon by the machine.

10 is a rectangular-shaped carriage constructed of metal and having detachable downwardly-extending fianges,,26 26 being cylindrical roller-bearings therefor secured to the flanges and adapted to support the entire carriage upon the upper flange of the I-beam 2.

27 27 represent a split nut, the threads of which have the same pitch as the threads of the carriage-propelling screw 9.

23 28 are pins operatively connected to the IOC split nut 27, an eccentric 29, and a short shaft 30, which is provided with an operating-lever 31 and handle 32, the general arrangement of this carriage 10, the split nut 27, carriagepropelling screw 9, and intermediate operating parts to the handle 32 not being essentially different from the like parts found in well-known forms of bench-lathes when it is desired to shift the carriage at Will..

11 represents the pipe or tube to the outer surface of which the screw-thread is to be secured.

12 represents a rod or shaft journaled at one end and at intermediate points in standards 4 and at the other end in the standard 3.

13 13 13 13orepresent grooved rollers journaled upon pivoted arms 14, carried by the rod or shaft 12, said rollers being designed to act as steadying devices for preventing the pipe or tube 11 from excessive vibrations when rotated at great speed.

24 is an operating-handle operatively connected with the rod 12 and adapted to rotate said rod in either direction so that the grooved rollers 13 13 mayall be simultaneously moved into or out of operative relation with the pipe or tube, said grooved rollers and their supporting-arms 14 also having each a slight independent movement about the rod by virtue of notches and stops at their pivoted ends, as will be apparent on inspection of Fig. 5. In other words, the arrangement is such that when the grooved rollers are in the position shown in Fig. 5 they are free to move independently up and down through a slight arc, so that such movement will not affect or act upon'the rod or shaft 12.

15 represents a cylindricalclainp or clutch attached at one end directly to the shaft of the propellingmotor 5, its free end being adapted to receive one end of the pipe or tube 11 to be acted upon. 16 is the movable part of said clutch, the same being pivotally secured thereto and adapted when held in its lower position to firmly grip the pipe or tube 11, so that it will rotate with the n10- tor-shaft. Ayielding locking-pin is provided for the movable part 16, as shown in Fig. 4, said pin being adapted to lock it in its lower or clutching position. 17 is a cylindrical socket for the other end of the pipe or tube 11. This socket is journaled in a cylindrical jou rnal-bearing at the upper end of the standard 3 and is provided with two wedge-shaped grooves adapted to receive the inner pointed end of a spring-pressed pin 13, dependent upon the movement of the socket from right to left, and vice versa.

19 is a sliding rod having movement longitudinally through a cylindrical opening in the journal-bearing and cone-shaped at its inner end, so as to rest against a corresponding cone-shaped depression in the end of the socket 17.

20 is an armsecured to the sliding rod 19, and 21 is a cord or rope extending, downwardly and around grooved pulleys 22 22, secured, respectively, to the standard 3 and I- beam 2, 23 being a weight attached directly to the lower end of the cord or rope, the function of all of said parts being to give to the socket 17 yielding movementin either direction, as desired, thereby adapting it for pipes or tubes of slightly-different length.

25 is a milled or roughened hand-wheel secured directly to the motor-shaft, its function being to enable the attendant to manually rotate the pipe or tube 11 as may be desired during any part of the operation and when the motor is disconnected from the circuit.

'33 34 represent a split journal-bearing for aifordinga sliding bearing for the pipe or tube l1,the lower-part of said journal-bearing being secured directly to an upwardly-extending standard 37, adjustably secured to the carriage 10 by dovetail guideways 38 39, the arrangement being such that said standard may be adjusted back and forth in the direction of the length of the carriage. The upper part 34 of the journal-bearing is secured on one side to the lower part 33 by links 35.

3636 are links secured directly to the other end of the lower part 33, and 77 is a lockinghandle adapted to lock the two parts of the journal-bearing in the position shown in Fig. 5, said parts being all shown in open position in Fig. 4.

40, 41, 42, 43, and 44 are guide-rolls for the wire 45, which is to be wound upon and constitute the thread when the threaded pipe or tube is completed,said wire being preferably triangular in cross-section and grooved in one face thereof in the manner disclosed in my beforementioned applications for the purpose of receiving the brazing-wi re between it and the pipe or tube.

47 is a cast-metal frame secured directly to and carried by the carriage 10, said frame acting as a support for the above-named guide-rolls and also as a support for other parts to be hereinafter described.

46 isa reel upon which the supply of threadwire is wound.

The guide-rolls 44, 43, 42, and 40 all have triangular grooves, the grooved faces thereof corresponding to the angular faces of the thread-wire 45, while the guide-roll 41 has a fiat cylindrical surface adapting it to bear against the lower or fiat face of the threadwire in which is located the groove to receive the brazing-wire as the latter is wound upon the pipe or tube 11, as will be more particularly described in connection with the description of the mode of operation.

48 is a stationary part, and 49 the movable or gripping part, of a clamp pivoted thereto and adapted to grip or clamp the thread-wire 45, said parts being carried bodily by two parallel rods 51 51, secured at their opposite ends directly to the frame 47.

is an operating-rod for moving the clamp 'or stem 54 in a lateral extension of the frame 47 and is provided with an operating-knob 55 and a strong spiral spring 56 for holding it in its upper or inoperative position. The lower part 52 is secured in a screw-threaded holein a second lateral extension of the frame 47, to which is secured aguide-plate having an opening for receiving the free end of the threadwire 45 and delivering it directly to the surface of the pipe or tube 11.

57 is a curved tubular guideway for the brazing-wire 58, wound upon a reel 59, carried by an upwardly-extending standard or arm 60, secured directly to the carriage 10. The lower end of the guideway 57 is such that the supply of brazing-wire is delivered at the lower surface of the pipe or tube 11 and in the groove in the thread-wire 45 as it passes through the opening in the guide-plate just referred to.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, 64 is a regulator-in the present instance a rheostatfor controlling the speed or movement of the motor 5. This regulator is secured directly to the I-beain 2 by legs or standards, as shown. is an operating-arm secured to the regulator and operatively connected with the coils of the rheostat (not shown) in such manner thatwheu the arm is moved in opposite directions the speed of the motor will be varied, or it may be entirely stopped, if desired, by moving the arm 65 to the extreme left. 67 is a slotted operating-arm connected by a pin to the arm 65 and rigidly secured to a sliding rod 66, having movement through lugs or cars attached to the box of the regulator 64. The sliding rod 66 is connected at one end directly to a rigid arm 73, secured at its middle to a primary operating-rod 61, having longitudinal movement in brackets 62 62, secured to the under flange of the I- heam 2, said primary operating-rod extending the entire length of the machine. The other end of the rigid arm 73 is adapted to slide longitudinally over a rod 71, secured at one end to a standard 72 beneath the lower flange of the I-beam 2. The function of said rod 71 is to enable the primary operating-rod 61 to act upon the regulator without undue strain. 69 is an adjustable stop secured to the primary operating-rod 61, and 74 is a downwardly-extending lug or arm carried by the carriage 10 with its free end in the path of the stop, the arrangement being such that when the stop 69 is secured to the primary operating-rod 61 at any point the machine will be stopped automatically by the action of the lug or arm 74 when it comes into mechanical contact with the stop 69, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. is a metal vessel secured directly to'the frame 47 and carriage 10 and adapted to hold a supply of liquid flux, as borax, in solution. 63 63 are stirring devices or arms carried by the grooved guideroll 42, located within and near the bottom of the vessel 70, their function being to constantly agitate the liquid flux as the threadwire is drawn therethrough.

The operation is as follows: The pipe, tube, or rod 11 to be operated upon is placed with one end in the socket 17 and the other in the clamp 15, and the movable part of the clamp 16 is locked in its lower position by the locking-pin 76. The split journal-bearing 33 34 is then locked by turning the upper or hinged part 34 into the position shown in Fig. 5. The

operating-handle 24, attached to the rod or shaft 12, is rotated in a direction the reverse of that shown by the arrow in Fig. 4, so that all of the grooved rollers 13 13 rest of their own free weight upon the body of the pipe or tube, thereby preventing any undue vibration of the latter when it is rapidly rotated. The thread-wire 45 is threaded through the guiderolls 44 43 42 and between the guide-rolls 41 and 40, with the grooved portion thereof resting against the cylindrical surface of the guide-roll 41 and a short portion of said Wire beneath the rolls 43 and 42 completely submerged in the liquid flux. It is then passed between the stationary and movable parts 48 and 49 of the clamp carried by the parallel rods 51 51 and threaded through the openings in the frame and the guide-plate, the free end thereof passing finally through an opening drilled in the end of the pipe or tube 11. (See Fig. 4.) The last portion of this threading movement is effected by locking the thread- .wire 45 between the parts 48 and 49 of the is now passed downward through the curved tubular guideway 57 and the free end thereof forced into frictional contact between the grooved portion of the thread-wire and the outer face of the pipe, andthe latter is rotated by the hand-wheel 25 in the direction of the arrow for a few turns, as shown in Fig.4. This upon the assumption that the operating-lever 31 and handle 32, which controls the split nut 27, is in its vertical position or so that the split nut is operatively connected to thecarriage-propelling screw 9. The attendant takes holdof either of the operating-rods 61 or 66 and moves the arm 65 of the controller to the right, thus connecting the motor 5 in circuit in a manner well understood bythose skilled in the operation and control of electric motors, whereupon said motor continuously rotates the pipe 11 in the direction above indicated. Consequently the thread-wire is wound around the pipe with the successive con volutions in close frictional contact with each other and the brazing-wire 58 firmly secured in position in the groove between it and the pipe, the carriage and all of the parts carried thereby advancing continuouslyby the action of the carriagepropelling screw, 9 and split nut 27, the interconnected gear-wheels .6, 7, and Sbeing so arranged as to give the proper direction of such movement at the same time that the pipe or tube 11 is rotated. The motor is speeded up to the desired speed and the operation indicated continues until the carriageis advanced bearing Serial No. 102,849.

out of circuit at the instant that the completion of the operation is effectedat the extremeleft-hand end of the pipe at the end of the socket 17, the carriage having advanced during-the operation from the position shown in. full lines in Figs. 2 and 4to the extreme left- The attendant then strikes hand position. the knob or handle 55 a sharp blow, forcing the knife 53 down against the action of the spring 56, cutting 0% the thread-wire 45. He cuts the wire 58 at a point near the exit end of the curved tubular guideway 57. The locking-handle 77 is Withdrawn from right to left (see Fig. 5) and the movable part 34 of the split journal-bearing is opened. The operating-handle 24, attached to the rod or shaft 12, is then rotated in the direction of the arrow, (see Fig. 4,) thus causing the arms 14 14 and the grooved rollers 13 13, supported at the free ends thereof,to be removed from contact with the pipe or tube 11. The pipe is then removed from the machine after having released the clutch 15 and advanced the carriage slightly to the right by the aid of the hand-wheel 25 and is ready to be subjected to the continuance of the process described and claimed in my before-named application, As the threaded wire is drawn beneath the guide-rolls 43 42 duringthe above-named operation it is subjected to the action of the bath of the liquid flux and is completely coated therewith. At the same time thestirring devices 63, carried by the guide-roll 42, effectually agitate the liquid flux, so as to keep it always in constant solution.

Although I have shown an electric motor 5 operatively connected with the machine and a" controller therefor operatively connected with mechanism, hereinbefore described, for both automatically and manually controlling the movements of the motor, obviously the same result might be effected by any wellknown equivalent mechanical source of applied power and means for applying equivalent devices for stopping the motive device and controlling its speedsuch, for instance, as pulleys, belts, belt shifters, mechanical speed-varying mechanism, &c., and in wellknown use in workshops generally. Nor do I limit my invention to the specific structural mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, as obviously a number of the features thereof might be materially departed from and still come within the scope of my claims hereinafter made. To make a single illustration, instead of continuously rotating the pipe, tube, or rod 11,.the same might be maintained in a rigid position and the carriage rotated continuously around the tube, the supply of thread-wire being carried thereby and continuously advanced, so as to place the thread upon the outer surface of the described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This machine may also be used for thread- ;ing either or both ends or any intermediate portion of a pipe, tube, or rod, in which event the milled hand-wheel 25 might constitute the source of applied power and be manually operated, my claims being designed to include all such obvious uses of the machine. Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for continuously winding a thread-wire in successive spirals around the tube; additional means I for guidinga brazing-wire between the threadwire and the surface of the tube; in combination with means for continuously advancing the thread-wire and the brazing-wire in the direction of the length of the tube as they are wound therearound, substantially as described.

2. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube, embracing means for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; in combination with a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire continuously to the outer surface of said tube as it is rotated; together with means for advancing said carriage in the direction of the length of the tube and means for automatically stopping the carriage at the desired point, substantially as described.

3. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; in combination with a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire continuously to the outer surface of said tube as it is rotated; together with means for advancing said carriage in the direction of the length IIO of the tube and additional means for preventing the tube from excessive vibrations, when it is rotated, substantially as described.

4:. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; in combination with a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire to the outer surface of the tube andmeans for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tube as the latter is rotated; together with additional means for advancing the carriage in the direction of the length of the tube, substantially as described.

5. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for rotating said tube continuously in a-given direction; in combination with a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire to the outer surface of the tube and means for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tube as the latter is rotated; together with additional means for advancing the carriage in the direction of the length of the tube and means for preventing the tube from excessive vibrations when it is rotated, substantially as described.

6. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction;

a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire continuously to the surface of said tube and additional means carried also by the carriage for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tubeas it is rotated; in combination with means adapted to continuously supply a flux to the thread-wire and the brazing-wire and means for continuously advancing the carriage in the direction of the length of the tube, substantially as described.

7. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing a source of power for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; a carriage supporting means for guiding a thread-wire continuously to the surface of said tube and additional means carried also by the carriage for guiding a brazin g-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tube as it is rotated; in combination with means operatively connected with the source of power for continuously advancing the carriage in the direction of the length of the tube, substantially as described.

8. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing a source of power for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; a carriage supporting means for guiding a threadwire continuously to the surface of said tube and additional means carried also by the carriage for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tube as it is rotated; in combination with means operatively connected with the source of power for continuously advancing the carriage in the direction of the length of the tube; together with means for regulating the application of power to the machine, substantially as described.

9. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing a source of power for rotating said tube continuously in agiven direction; means for clamping said tube in mechanical connection with the source of power; in combination with a carriage operatively connected by a carriage-propelling screw with the source of power; together with means carried by the carriage for guiding a thread-wire continuously to the outer surface of the tube as it is rotated, and additional means carried by the carriage for guiding a brazing-wire between the surface of the tube and the threadwire; whereby a thread of successive contacting spirals is wound upon the outer surface of the tube and a brazingwire inclosed between the spirals and said tube, substantially as described.

10. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube, embracing a source of power for rotatingsaid tube continuously in a given direction; means forclamping one end of said tube in mechanical connection with the source of power; in combination with sliding supporting means for the other end of the tube; together with a carriage operatively connected by a carriage-propelling screw with a source of power and means carried by the carriage for guiding a thread-wire to the outer surface of the tube as it is rotated, substantially as described.

11. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing a source of power for rotating said tube continuously in a given direction; means for clamping said tube in mechanical connection with the source of power; in combination with yielding supporting means for the other end of the tube; together with a carriage operatively connected by a carriage-propelling screw with a source of power; means carried by the carriage for guiding a thread-wire to the outer surface of the tube as it is rotated and additional means carried also by the carriage for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-wire and the surface of the tube,substantially as described.

12. A machine for manufacturing'a screwthreaded tube embracing means for continuously rotating said tube in a given direction; in combination with a carriage operatively connected with said means by a carriage-propelling screw; together with means carried by the carriage for guiding a thread-wire to the surface of the tube and a clamp for gripping the end of said wire and forcing it through an opening in the end of the tube preliminary to startingthe machine, substantially as described.

13. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for continuously rotating said tube in a given direction; a carriage operatively connected with said means bya carriage-propellingscrew; means carried also by the carriage for gripping the end of said wire and forcing it through an ,end of the thread-wire so that it can be inserted in the opening and the tube afterward rotated a number of times preliminary to starting the machine, substantially as described.

14. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing means for continuously rotating said tube in a given direction; and acarriage operatively connected with said means by acarriage-propelling screw; in combination with means carried by the carriage for guidinga thread-Wire to the surface of the tube and a knife carried also by the carriage for severing the thread-wire when desired, substantially as described.

15. A machine for manufacturing a screwthreaded tube embracing a motive device for continuously rotating saidtube in a given direction; a clamp for operatively connecting said tube to the motive device; a carriage operatively connected with the motive device byacarriage-propellingscrew;guiding means carried by the carriage for guiding a thread- Wire to the outer surface of the tube; additional guiding means carried also by the carriage for guiding a brazing-wire between the thread-Wire and the surface of the tube; a vessel carried also by the carriage containing a liquid flux through which the thread-wire passes; a reel provided with a supply of thread-Wire and an additional reel provided with a supply of brazing-wire; steadying de- Vices for preventing excessive vibrations of the tube; a controller for regulating the application of power from the motive device to the machine and means for automatically stopping the machine when the tube is surrounded With thread throughout its entire length, all acting substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDl/VIN T. GREEN FIELD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM T. RUETE, CHARLES J. KINTNER. 

